Is it just me or is West Seattle experiencing a high rate of death/murder this year? Too much heartbreak for too many friends and families. Thoughts and prayers to all who have lost somebody this year. RIP

Do you know if AEDs (automated external defibrillators) are typically kept on/near the field? While they don’t help in all cases, they do increase survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest from 5-30% to > 50% on average.

@Gene, the Chief Sealth PTSA made a generous donation last year to the Heart of Seattle Schools foundation, in conjunction with the Nick of Time Foundation to support the installation of AEDs at Seattle public schools and we also supported a free heart screening that was hosted at CSIHS last summer. My understanding is that they did install an AED at SWAC – but I don’t know the circumstances of this sad and unfortunate event. My deepest condolences to Mr. Holding’s family.
.http://www.heartofseattleschools.org/http://nickoftimefoundation.org/

@WSB – thank you. It may not have helped in this case as it sounds like there were off-duty paramedics there and they started CPR right away, but given the apparent increase in sudden cardiac arrest, I’d love to see AEDs on the field for all sporting events and large public gatherings to provide the best chance for survival.

@add – thank you and I appreciate the PTSAs donation last year. This is an issue literally near and dear to my heart as someone who survived a heart attack (MI, not SCA) in my late 20s. Thank you for the links, and I too offer my deepest condolences to his family.

Really sad about this. I read an article about this on KOMO and it said he went to the doctors a day or so before complaining of chest pain. They didn’t find anything? Kinda scary that you try to do the right thing and check and even that doesn’t save you.

(Common loon in winter plumage, photographed by Mark Wangerin) Lots of good cheer - and some community involvement too - in our highlights for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar: COCOA CRIS CRINGLE: 4-8 pm photo sessions at Easy Street Records, rais...